SIP Featured Article

Tech Data (News - Alert) Corporation now offers its reseller partners--especially Cisco shops--a comprehensive suite of hosted IP communications services provided in partnership with Cbeyond (News - Alert), Telovations and XO Communications.

Services now available include Cbeyond's BeyondVoice with SIPconnect, an integrated package of local and long-distance voice, high-speed Internet and mobile services.

Telovations' (News - Alert) Innovate for Business Service and IP Phone Pack enables resellers to offer a managed voice solution on an all-IP Cisco-powered network.

XO's SIP Service delivers converged voice and data services to businesses with IP-PBX systems, especially resellers deploying Cisco's Unified Communications (News - Alert) Manager Express.

The Tech Data moves are the latest example of a trend towards recurring revenue streams and away from hardware sales in the value added reseller space.

At the same time, such moves illustrate the changing landscape upon which providers of communication services to small and mid-sized businesses must operate.

Historically a market segment dominated by incumbent telcos, over the last two decades newer players specializing on the SME segment have emerged. Firms such as XO and Cbeyond are examples, but there are lots of independent agencies that act as sales channels for such providers.

The latest major change is a move by cable operators into the lower end of the commercial markets segment.

Major wireless providers also are inching towards "all wireless" services suitable for the SME customer segment as well, though for the moment most providers seem content with the ever-growing share of business communications spending going to wireless services.

At the same time, suppliers from the "desktop support" and local networking industry, traditionally focused on equipment sales, increasingly are shifting to recurring revenue models based on connectivity and other managed services.

----------

Gary Kim is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Don’t forget to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users.

Today’s featured White Paper is titled Security Considerations for an IP PBX and Contact Center, brought to you by Interactive Intelligence (News - Alert).